Michael B. Jordan is okay with having a black Human Torch

We have two different sides arguing about whether or not the Human Torch should be black in the Josh Trank-directed Fantastic Four reboot. In the comic book, the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch is white who has a white sister, Susan Storm. Michael B. Jordan, who’s in talks to play the Human Torch, chimes in on the matter to USA Today during the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Fruitvale Station.

“Things change and time goes on, it’s 2013 right now,” Jordan says about the Human Torch. “The characteristics of the Human Torch are his name is Johnny Storm, he’s charismatic, and he’s a playboy. That’s it. You know what I’m saying? That’s all there is.”

As for whether he’s officially playing the character, he says that nothing is set in stone yet.

“Nothing is real. Everyone knows we’re good friends. It’s something that if it happened I would be ecstatic,” says Jordan. “I’d love to be a part of it.”

Jordan responds to the fans who are opposed to the idea of a black Human Torch.

“I think all these people have a continuity problem.”

Although there are critics, he’s confident that there are enough fans out there who are okay with him being the Human Torch.

“I get a lot of support and a lot of love from comic-book geeks. I love it,” says Jordan. “If you go looking for negative things you’re going to find it. You never go through a girl’s phone. If you’re looking for trouble, you’re going to find it. But we’ll see where this all goes.”

Jordan also talks to Huffington Post about how things are different and that it’s okay for blacks to break the mold.

“I’m all about breaking barriers and changing stuff.”

“It’s 2013. We’ve got a black president. Times have changed.”

This isn’t the first time a black actor has played a white character in a comic book. We’ve seen this with Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin in the Daredevil movie, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent in Batman, Idris Elba as Heimdall in Thor, and we’ll be seeing it in the upcoming Man of Steel movie where Laurence Fishburne will be playing Perry White. The only difference is if this actually does happen for Jordan, it’ll be for a character who’s more popular than the rest.